11 month old thread but people will keep finding it I guess. So I’ve just been through this process as I bought a couple of the steel bols (two bikes to do) befire winter ready for spring maintenance. Cranks are off anyway so thought I’d get on it. Ironically, for the first time ever I didn’t actually have any significant difficulty removing the cranks using the existing Alu 8mm self extractor today. But I have the teel bolts so they’re going on.
– like many, I couldn’t get the reverse threaded cap off either. Nearly gave up at that point. This is using a good Park Tool pin spanner too. Crank wedged between knee ls and protected underneath. No joy.
– got the PBBlaster out and tried that after 5-10 minutes. Tried quite a few times. Still no joy.
– pin spanner and holes are now looking a wee bit worn just from this one job. So I decided to give it one last go. Picture shows what I used to do it.
– PB Blaster to try and loosen threads if relevant. Massive knuckles gloves for the time it might slip and put a hole in my hand from chainring or from pin spanner. Cloth and foam under the crank and chainring.
Rubber mallet.
Crank between knees while kneeling.
Left hand keeping pin spanner flush in the two pin holes tight. Right hand with rubber mallet and two taps and that was it. Done.
Picture attached 🙂
Now off to clean hands from PB blaster
And then it’s clean everything up and refit with the usual grease/anti seize as appropriate.